The Quiet Man

My mother used to say that she knew she was getting old when the policemen started looking young.I realized I was over the hill when the coaches of the teams I cover all started looking like Doogie Howser.When did this happen? When I was in school, all the coaches were 65 years old, grizzled, miserable, and had fought the Nazis in the Battle of The Bulge. They had crew-cuts, watched Lawrence Welk, and had absolutely nothing in common with the kids that they coached.I look down on the court now and the coaches are all 25 years old. If they slipped on a uniform they could run out on the court and play. They are hip, cool, and probably skateboard to work every day. These young dynamos are on their feet the entire game, chattering non-stop at players, refs and anyone within shouting distance. They micro-manage every aspect of the action. Players are afraid to make a move before getting instructions from their coach. "Hold it!" "OK, start dribbling" "Hurry up!" "Slow down!" "Take the shot!" "DON'T take the shot!" "What are you DOING out there?!" I'm not sure how any of this helps the players develop. All decision-making and spontaneity has been taken out of their hands.I'm not blaming the new-wave coaches. This is how they were brought up. They played on youth teams where they were micro-managed by legions of overbearing coaches who were terrified at the thought of just letting kids play, or God-forbid, making mistakes, on their own. That's why I find it refreshing to watch long-time Bridgewater-Raynham boys basketball head coach Larry Fisher work.Other than the occasional time out, Fisher remains seated for the entire game. He doesn't say a word, either to his players, or the refs, while play is going on. The new generation will call this heresy, but he trusts his players to do what they have learned in practice."My feeling is that this is high school," Fisher said. "Others may feel differently, but it's a game. My coaching is done in practice. I try to treat the kids as adults."Treat kids as adults? That gasping sound you just heard was every 20-something coach in America keeling over at the thought of giving kids responsibility."I deal with working out playing time and strategy," Fisher said. "I leave the game to the players."What about those refs? How can you ensure that they'll "Keep it fair" if you're not hollering in their ear all game long?"I used to officiate," Fisher said. "The experience made me realize how hard it is to work these games. I respect the efforts of officials. They work hard and they are doing their best."Respect for officials? Fisher better watch out. He could be expelled from the Loyal Order of Coaches when his philosophy becomes public.Coach isn't going to change. He's been at the helm at B-R for 24 years. If you're still waiting for a storm after all this calm, you'll be sorely disappointed. "I've borrowed some things from all the coaches I've seen," Fisher said. "You can call my approach old school, but it really comes down to my own style. I've found that a low-key approach is best. It suits my personality."A true gentleman, Fisher unfailingly praises his opponent after each game. Then, win or lose, he applauds the effort of his own squad."We're all in this together," Fisher said. "We win or lose as a team. That's always been the best way."

John Quattrucci is the sports editor of the Bridgewater Independent, the Raynham Call, the Easton Journal and the Mansfield News. He can be reached at 508-967-3527 or jquattruci@wickedlocal.com.